were welcome thank you for coming to
Greenwich and I I invite you first of
all to do it I'm sure we've done before
to raise your eyes to the heavens this
is the settlement of a long and divisive
political question at the Royal Naval
College and the shadow of Canary Wharf
Boris Johnson told his audience
including many ambassadors the new
settlement Britain wanted was a trading
relationship with the EU that was not
like Switzerland well folks I hope you
got the message by now we've made a
choice we want a comprehensive free
trade agreement similar to Canada's as
he spoke the EU was explaining that if
Britain wanted tariff free trade like
Canada it came with more restrictions
than the Canada trade deal specific and
effective guarantees to ensure a level
playing field over the long term over
the long term that means mechanism to
high standards we have in social
environmental climate
tax and stated matters back in Greenwich
Boris Johnson sounded like he might be
saying no to all of that there is no
need for a free-trade agreement to
involve accepting EU rules on
competition policies subsidies social
protection the environment or anything
similar if the EU didn't budge then
Boris Johnson said he'd settle for
Australia's relationship with the EU no
free trade agreement and tariffs on
goods the question is whether we agree a
trading relationship with the EU
comparable to Canada's or more like
Australia's and I have no doubt that in
either case the UK will prosper mightily
Boris Johnson said he wanted to
negotiate with the US on trade straight
away and defended their farming industry
on issues like genetically modified
crops in doing free trade deals we will
be governed by Tsai
and not by mumbo-jumbo because the
potential is enormous and can I just put
to you one quote from Michel Barnier
this morning you said you can't possibly
be surprised by the requirements that
the EU is wanting to put on Britain if
we get to a Canada style trade agreement
it's all in the political declaration
robust commitments because of
geographical proximity
we're not Canada as for the political
declaration it makes it very clear that
both sides will commit to high standards
and I think everybody here this morning
will agree that I quite laborious Lee
explained that in many instances the UK
standards are higher than those of the
EU a trading relationship corresponding
to Australia's with the EU that that is
a new euphemism for No Deal
isn't it because there is no trade
agreement you can point to we have a
deal and we're coming out we have come
out on the basis of that of that deal if
we had a trading relationship along the
lines the EU has with Australia that
would be a disaster but no we would love
to have a closer relationship with
Australia yeah but the one do you have
at the moment that would be disaster for
Britain Anthony you wouldn't it couldn't
possibly speak on behalf of Britain it's
bit this choice is concerned that's no
deal isn't it dressed up I could
possibly say that do you think 10 years
from now Britain will be a bit more like
the United States in the way it
regulates the way it runs itself
maybe it will be more like Great Britain
you know I think both of our countries
share so many things together it's hard
to predict but I know that good things
are gonna happen veterans of the trade
scene said these talks were still in the
opening chest-beating phase and we have
a long while to wait before signs of
movement and agreement can be detected
Garry given reporting so how have Boris
Johnson's words gone down in Europe by
chance here in London today was one of
Germany's most influential politicians
from the ruling Christian Democrats
Norbert Watkyn chair of the Bundestag
Foreign Affairs Committee our Europe
editor Matt fry went to talk to him and
started by asking about Boris Johnson's
implication that he could settle for No
Deal I think it's it's it's a mostly a
tactical rhetoric addressing their
domestic audience so I think in a way
you have to take it seriously uh what
the Prime Minister is telling but I
think at the end of the day after
several months of negotiations so let's
say in summer then there will be a clear
alternative either we we are able to
inflict harm on both sides or we seize
opportunities so I think at the end the
pragmatic view will prevail but what
gives you that optimism because because
at the end it will be boiled down to
this alternative harm versus
opportunities and why not sell
opportunities and advantages to the
people and to the citizens and to the
voters instead of that harm and
disadvantage but of course everyone
wants opportunities and no one would
admit to trying to impose harm but this
government is not prepared to take any
rules from Brussels in the kind of
cobbling together a future trading
relationship so is it even possible to
have that kind of compromise I
yes I'm quite I'm optimistic however
there is a danger if this rhetoric on
both sides very principled
very sharp will prevail and and endure
for a long time there is a danger that
at the end of the day both sides are at
least one side does not see how to exit
in a face-saving way however I think
there is the key perhaps might be in the
difference between level playing field
and we do not follow your rule of course
nobody expects the Brits to follow
European rules but the level playing
field is something different there is
considerable damage also to the German
economy if this doesn't go well mm-hmm
does that frighten people in Berlin yes
this is the reason why we do not want to
have disadvantage and this is the reason
why we want why we insist to to not
engage in the mutual disadvantage in a
disadvantage imposing style but into the
different style the it was style even if
London takes a different Toni I mean the
tone is very robust at the moment yeah I
think we should nevertheless opt for
pragmatism staying cool and sober and
not orient ourselves to rhetoric but to
facts and the economic realities no but
that can thank you very much thank you
so much